SAN JOSE, Calif. – Finding motivation to fight Josh Thomson wasn’t the grand struggle it was made out to be for Gilbert Melendez.

“It’s tough to get motivated sometimes just because if I was on the other end of the stick and I got a good opportunity, it’s a lot easier to get motivated,” he said after a close decision victory over Thomson at “Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final.”

Finding momentum during the fight was a different story.

A disappointed Melendez (21-2 MMA, 11-1 SF) felt he could have performed better against Thomson (19-5 MMA, 10-2 SF) in the rubber match that many fans saw as a lateral move for his career.

“I couldn’t really unleash the beast tonight,” he said. “I just kind of felt like I was in control.”

Two of three judges agreed and awarded Melendez the fight by scores of 48-47. A third dissented for Thomson, 47-48. It was Melendez’s fourth title defense since retaking the belt from Thomson in December 2009.

“Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Finale” took place Saturday at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. The main card aired live on Showtime while went to Showtime Extreme aired prelims.

The close fight prompted the question of a fourth fight between the champ and former titleholder. Melendez placated the pro-Thomson crowd with a “yeah sure, whatever,” when it was broached immediately after the decision.

But at the post-fight presser, he gave an emphatic “no” when asked the same.

Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker, meanwhile, was lavish in his praise of the rubber match but said Melendez and Thomson wouldn’t meet again.

“The trilogy is done, and we’ll go from there,” he said.

From the announcement of the third fight, Melendez faced questions of whether he was up to the task when his campaign to cross into the UFC failed. He was frank in admitting the matchup was not the one he wanted, but he said he would properly prepare nonetheless.

Thomson’s previous performance, a workmanlike decision victory over K.J. Noons, led many to believe Melendez would dominate the fight, and he was an overwhelming favorite in betting lines.

Melendez said he knew Thomson would be a tough and tried not to let expectations get to him.

“Even if I win, you lose, unless you finish him or do it in spectacular fashion,” he said. “But I’m alright with it.”

Thomson proved he was as dangerous as ever when he nearly submitted Melendez late in the fourth round. Melendez called the close call a “game changer.”

And moving forward, it’s a game he doesn’t want to play again.

“I got the job done, and I thought I was in control,” Melendez said. “I was cruising it.”

A total of 26 fighters got their chance to shine on Saturday as part of UFC 190 at Rio de Janeiro’s HSBC Arena. Now that UFC 190 is in the books, it’s time to commence MMAjunkie’s “Three Stars” ceremony.

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